Enshrined in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for the restoration
of peace and stability in Liberia is a provision for the United Nations,
the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, and
other international organizations to jointly supervise and conduct the
proposed Liberian elections in October 2005. The well thought out decision
to include this important provision was no accident. Liberians have
had bitter experiences with rigged elections and disastrous electoral
irregularities, over the years. Mrs. Frances Johnson-Morris, the chairperson
of the National Elections Commission mentioned some of these irregularities
during her induction ceremony in Monrovia.

Article IX 4(a) of the agreement provides that the Parties agree that
the Transitional Government which is to be established in Liberia shall
request the United Nations, the African Union, the Economic Community
of West African States, and other members of the international community,
as appropriate, to jointly conduct, monitor and supervise the next elections
in the country.

The presidential and general elections scheduled for October 2005,
are likely to be one of the most contentious, and in many ways, the
most important in the history of Liberia. The hope is the elections
will help to establish the foundation for enduring democratic institutions
and a pluralistic society. In this connection, it is absolutely essential
for the electoral process to be jointly internationally supervised and
conducted, as provided by the Accra Peace Agreement.

The effort by the Gyude Bryant interim government to expand the National
Elections Commission to include five international commissioners must
be lauded. However, the government needs to read Article IX 4(a) of
the Accra Peace Agreement and invite the relevant members of the international
community to jointly supervise and conduct the elections as stipulated
in the agreement. It is appropriate for the international community
to jointly supervise and conduct the elections because Liberia has a
long history of electoral fraud.

In addition, the Gyude Bryant interim government must make every effort
to provide the opportunity for every Liberian to participate in what
is turning out to be the most important elections in the history of
Liberia. If the 2005 presidential and general elections are free and
fair, the results will once and for all resolve the leadership question
in Liberia. The elections will also give the Liberian people the opportunity
to decide which political party or “political individual”
has the best plan to democratize Liberia, initiate socio-economic development
programs and restore the dignity and pride of the Liberian people.

Ultimately, the international supervision of the 2005 national and
general elections and the participation of as many Liberians as possible
in the electoral process will guarantee the acceptance of the results
by all the participants, as well as the international community.